Onbrez Breezhaler Adverse Reactions

Summary of the safety profile: The most common adverse reactions at the recommended doses were nasopharyngitis (14.3%), upper respiratory tract infection (14.2%), cough (8.2%), headache (3.7%) and muscle spasms (3.5%). These were in the vast majority mild or moderate and became less frequent if treatment was continued.
At the recommended doses, the adverse reaction profile of Onbrez Breezhaler in patients with COPD shows clinically insignificant systemic effects of beta₂-adrenergic stimulation. Mean heart rate changes were less than one beat per minute, and tachycardia was infrequent and reported at a similar rate as under placebo treatment. Relevant prolongations of QTcF were not detectable in comparison to placebo. The frequency of notable QTcF intervals [i.e. >450 ms (males) and >470 ms (females)] and reports of hypokalaemia were similar to placebo. The mean of the maximum changes in blood glucose were similar between Onbrez Breezhaler and placebo.
Tabulated summary of adverse reactions: The Onbrez Breezhaler Phase III clinical development programme involved patients with a clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe COPD. 4,764 patients were exposed to indacaterol up to one year at doses up to twice the maximum recommended dose. Of these patients, 2,611 were on treatment with 150 microgram once daily and 1,157 on treatment with 300 microgram once daily. Approximately 41% of patients had severe COPD. The mean age of patients was 64 years, with 48% of patients aged 65 years or older, and the majority (80%) was Caucasian.
Adverse reactions in Tables 2 and 3 are listed according to MedDRA system organ class in the COPD safety database. Within each system organ class, adverse reactions are ranked by frequency in descending order according to the following convention: Very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). (See Tables 2 and 3).

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At 600 microgram once-daily, the safety profile of Onbrez Breezhaler was overall similar to that of recommended doses. An additional adverse reaction was tremor (common).
Description of selected adverse reactions: In Phase III clinical studies, healthcare providers observed during clinic visits that on average 17-20% of patients experienced a sporadic cough that occurred usually within 15 seconds following inhalation and typically lasted for 5 seconds (about 10 seconds in current smokers). It was observed with a higher frequency in female than in male patients and in current smokers than in ex-smokers. This cough experienced post inhalation did not lead to any patient discontinuing from the studies at the recommended doses (cough is a symptom in COPD and only 8.2% of patients reported cough as an adverse event). There is no evidence that cough experienced post inhalation is associated with bronchospasm, exacerbations, deteriorations of disease or loss of efficacy.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions: Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions.